24 January, 2025 16:30:38 IST 
German chemicals firm, Wacker Chemie, has started up two new production facilities for speciality silicones in Japan and South Korea.
The new plants, located in Tsukuba, Japan and in Jincheon, South Korea, will serve the growing demand from the automotive and construction industries for these products. In total, Wacker has invested an amount in the “double digit million Euro range” in the capacity expansions.
“With the expansion of our production facilities in Japan and South Korea, we are strengthening our position as a market and technology leader for high-quality silicone solutions in the important Asian growth market,” said Mr. Christian Kirsten, Wacker Executive Board member responsible for the Group’s silicones business, at the opening.
“We generate more than 40 percent of our sales in Asia. Our business activities in Japan and South Korea are major contributors”, emphasised Wacker’s executive board member Ms. Angela Wörl, who is responsible for the Asia region.
Tsukuba: Focus on e-mobility
The capacity expansion at Tsukuba is targeting customers from the automotive industry, especially in the field of electromobility. The newly built plant hosts a production line for manufacturing silicone-based thermal interface materials (TIM). These materials are basically silicone elastomers that have been modified with various additives and fillers during compounding to render them thermally conductive.
Aside from the automotive industry, silicone-based TIM also serve as so called gap fillers in the electronics industry, where they provide effective thermal management of electrical components. The batteries in electric cars, for example, are embedded in silicone encapsulants. This ensures controlled dissipation of the heat generated during operation and protects the traction battery from overheating.
As part of the global trend towards electromobility, demand for such speciality silicones is also expected to increase in Asia. Japanese automotive suppliers are currently investing heavily in this sector. “The industry is looking for opportunities to improve the design and performance of battery powered vehicles. Silicones are materials that enable new and innovative solutions, ranging from hybrid cable systems and efficient thermal management to effective potting of power electronics and enhanced battery safety. Our production line in Japan will enable us to better support growing demand for these high-end silicones in the region,” noted Mr. Kirsten.
Wacker produces silicone specialities in Tsukuba as part of the Wacker Asahikasei Silicone (AWS) joint venture founded in 1999. Here, the group also operates a technical centre and a training centre for silicone applications.
Focus on sealants in South Korea
At Jincheon, Wacker has been producing silicone sealants for the construction industry since 2010 and speciality silicones, liquid silicone rubbers and silicone elastomers for the automotive and electrical industries since 2012. The products are shipped to customers throughout Asia.
The silicone sealants production had already been expanded as part of the site’s relocation in 2018. However, increasing demand for sealants put the plant to its limits. The new production line will increase production capacity in Jincheon significantly.
“This investment will play a key role in ensuring that we can meet the growing demand in Asia in the long term. Jincheon now operates one of the largest, most modern and most efficient silicone sealant production sites in Asia,” added Mr. Kirsten.
